Apparatus for controlling trolley-poles.



' U IT D STATES Patented November 10, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

JUDSON L. BOGUE AND DAVID M. JENNINGS, OF DENISON, TEXAS.

APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING TROLLEY-POLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 743,43 5, datedNovember 10, 1903. Application filed May 2,1903. Serial No. 155,331. (Nomodel.)

new and useful Improvements inApparatus for Controlling Trolley-Poles,of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an apparatus for controlling trolley-polesemployed for eifecting electrical connection between a trolley wire anda motor on a car, and has for its object to provide improved means forautomatically throwing the trolley into position to be placed inengagement with the trolley-wire I in the event of the trolley beingaccidentally displaced therefrom, the apparatus being so constructed andarranged that the trolley may be freely placed in engagement with anddisengaged from the trolley-wire by hand without throwing into operationthe trolleyoperating mechanism.

.-To these ends our inventionconsists in the features and in theconstruction, combina-' tion, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed, and particularly pointed out in the claims following thedescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart of this specification, wherein Figure 1 is a view, partly inelevation and partly in section, showing our improved device attached toa car and the trolley in contact with the trolley-wire. Fig. 2 is adetail view illustrating the position the trolley-pole assumes when thetrolley leaves the wire and also showing the eccentric in position forthrowing the pole out of engagement with the ratchet-wheel. Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectional view showing the trolley-pole in a partially-loweredposition and the compressed air cut 06 from the cylinder. Fig. 4: is atop plan view showing the relative positions of the ratchet-wheel andeccentric and the connections with the valve, and Fig. 5 is a detailperspective view showing the eccentric and the ratchet-wheel.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates a vertical pintlefixed to the top of the car, on which isrotatably mounted the swivelcomprising a sleeve 2, provided on its front side with ahorizontallyextending bracketarm 3 and on its rear side with ahorizontallyextending socket 4. On the upper rear side of the sleeve 2is formed or fixed a horizontal transverse sleeve 5, through whichextends j a pivot-pin 6. The numeral 7 indicates a substantiallyU-shaped yoke, the pendent,

members 8 of which are curved in the manner shown, and said members areprovided with two registering perforations through which the pivot-pin 6passes, and by means of which latter the yoke is pivotally attached tothe swivel, so as to be free to oscillate thereon. The upper portion ofthe yoke is provided with a semicylindrical portion 9, provided on itssides with laterally-projecting perforated lugs 10,and adapted to besecured to said,

inafter referred to, that is adapted to make;

electrical contact with the trolley-wire 13.

Fixed in-the socket 1 is a rod 14, on which is arranged a coiled spring15. To the lower ends of the arms 8 of the yoke are secured rods 16,which are attached at their outer i ends to a collar 17, which ismovably arranged on the rod 14. The spring 15 bears at one end againstthe socket 1 and at its other end against the collar 17. The springoperates to force the collar 17 rearwardly and through the medium of therods 16 and pendent arms 8 of the yoke operates to throw the trolleypoleupward to place the trolley in engagement with the trolley-wire 13. 1

Fixed on the free end of the trolley-pole 12 is an extension com prisingtwo parts 18 and 19, connected together by a butt-hinge 20, and in theouter end of the part 19 is rotatably mounted the trolley-wheel 21.

The. part 18 of the extension is fitted over the end ofthe trolley-pole,and the adjacent ends of the two parts 18 and 19 of said extension areprovided with sockets 22, in which is arranged a compressed coiledspring 23, which operates normally to break the hinge-that is to i say,to throw the parts 18 and 19 out of alinement. To the member 19 of theextension is attached the trolley-controlling cord 24. Fixed to andforming part of the yoke 7 is a segment-shaped arm 25, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter explained. Fixed on the bracket-arm 3 is acylinder 26, closed at its opposite ends byheads 27 and 28 and in whichis arranged to reciprocate a piston 29, provided with a hollowpiston-rod 30, which passes through a suitable perforation formed in thehead 27 of the cylinder. The outer end of the piston-rod is preferablyrounded and is normally loosely seated in a concave socket 31, formedcentrally in a cross-head 32. The cross-head 32 moves back and forthbetween guideways 33 and 34. The guideway 33 consists of a rib formed onthe upper edge of the bracket-arm 3, and the guideway 34 consists of asimilar rib which forms an extension of the cylinder 26. To thecross-head 32 is pivot-ally connected one end of a pitman 35, the otherend of which is pivotally connected to the segment-shaped arm 25,attached to the socket in which is fixed the trolley-pole. Com municating with the rearend of the cylinder 26 is an air-pipe 36, whichleads from any suitable reservoirof compressed air carried by the carand not herein shown. Arranged in said air-pipe is a three-way valve 37,fixed on the bracket-arm 3, said air-valve being of ordinaryconstruction and adapted when turned in one position to admit compressedair to the cylinder 26 and when turned in another direction to cut ofithe supply of air to said cylinder and when turned to a third positionto place the cylinder in com munication with the atmosphere to exhaustthe compressed air from the cylinder. A contractile coiled spring 38 isarranged in the cylinder 26 and hollow piston-rod 30 and is fixed at oneend to the head 28 of the cylinder and its other end to the closed endof the hollow piston-rod 30, said spring operating when the three-wayvalve is turned into position to place the cylinder in communicationwith the atmosphere to retract the piston as the air is exhausted fromthe cylinder. Fixed on the stem 39 of the three-way valve are twocrankarms 40 and 41, and pivoted to the free end of the crank arm 41 isone end of a rod 42, said rod passing loosely through a fixed portion 43ot' the bracket-arm 3 and is provided at its extreme end with a nut andwasher 44.

Arranged between the washerand the fixed portion 43 of the bracket is acompression coiled spring 45. Journaled on the sleeve 5, forming a partof the swivel, is a ratchet-disk 46, which is provided with a crank-arm47, said crank-arm being connected to the crankarm 40 of the three-wayvalve by a link 48. The ratchet-disk 46 is also provided with abracket-arm 49, in which is arranged a setscrew 50 for a purposehereinafter made apparent. Journaled on the sleeve opposite theratchet-disk is an eccentric 51, provided with a perforated'ear or lug52, to which is pivoted one end of a link 53, the other end of thelatter being pivoted to the free end of the crank-arm 41 of thethree-way valve. Pivoted, as at 54, tothe yoke 7 is a rocking arm 55, toone end of which is pivoted a pawl 56, that is adapted to engage theteeth of the ratchet-disk 54 and which is also adapted to be engaged bythe periphery of the eccentric 51. To the other end of the rocking arm55 is attached a rod 57, which passes up through the hollow trolley-pole12 and through the member 18 of the extension and also through thespring 23 and is attached at its end to the member 19 of said extension.

7 The operation of ourimproved device is as follows: Normally the spring15 operates to hold the trolley-pole 12 in a partially-elevated positionto maintain the trolley-wheel 21 in contact with the trolley-wire 13,said spring in practice exerting a pressure of approximately thirtyfivepounds upon the trolleypole. While in this position the two members 18and 19 of the extension of the trolley-pole are held in alinement, thusclosing the butt-hinge and compressing the spring 23. 'When the partsare in this position, the rod 57 will be forced downward and will holdthe pawl 56 out of engagement with the ratchet-disk 46. Should thetrolley-wheel 21 from any cause become disengaged from the trolley-wire,the spring 23 will immediately expand, throwing the extension member 19upward and out of line with the trolley-pole and will also draw up therod 57, thus rocking the arm 55 upon its fulcrum and throwing the pawl56 into engagement with the teeth of the ratchetdisk 46. Thetrolley-pole being no longer held down by the trolley-wire, the spring15 will operate to throw it into a vertical position, and as it assumessuch a position the pawl 56 will turn the ratchet-disk 46 and throughthe medium of the crank-arms 47 and 40 and the link 48 will partiallyopen the three-Way valve. This movement will raise the crank-arm 41above the center of the valve-stem, whereupon the spring 45 willimmediately expand and will still further raise the crank-arm 41, thusthrowing the threeway valve wide open and admitting compressed air tothe cylinder 26. The piston 29 will thus be moved, and the piston-rod 30hearing against the cross-head 32 will move the latter also rearward andthrough the medium of the link 35 and segment-shaped arm 25 will throwthe trolley-pole downward into nearly a horizontal position. At the sametime the spring 45 expands and opens the three-way valve, as beforedescribed, a crankarm 41 will, through the medium of the link 53,partially rotate the eccentric 51, causing the high side of the latterto engage the pawl 56 and throw the latter out of engagement with theteeth of the ratchet-disk. As the trolley-pole is thrown downward toassume a nearly horizontal position a shoulder 58 of the yoke 7 willengage the set-screw 50, carried by the bracket-arm 49 on theratchet-disk, and will thereby partially rotate the ratchetdisk, whichthrough the medium of the cranks place the cylinder in communicationwith 47 and and link 48 will rotate the three-way valve to close thecommunication between the cylinder and the compressed-air reservoir andthe atmosphere and will throw the crank-arm with the trolley-wire 13, itis only necessary by pulling upon the cord 24 to first draw thetrolley-pole entirely down to a horizontal position, and in assumingsuch position the shoulder 58, hearing against the screw 50, will stillfurther rotate the ratchet-disk 46 and through the medium of the partsbefore described will turn the three-way valve and the atmosphere, thusexhausting said cylinder. be thrown below the center, and inassumingsuch position said crank-arm through the medium of the link 53 willrestore the eccentric 51to its original position, thus permitting the'pawl 56 to engage the teeth of the ratcheta trolley into engagement withthe trolley-wire,

the members 18 and 19 of the extension are trolley-wire withoutactuating the ratchetdisk 46 and through it the three-way valve. It willthus be seen that the trolley-wheel by means of the cord 24 may bethrown into and drawn out of engagement with the trolleywire withoutmoving the three-way valve at al1-as, for example, in changing from onewire to another or in reversing the trolleypole; but the moment that thetrolley is accidentally thrown out of engagement with the trolley-wirethe parts will immediately operate in the manner and to produce theresults before described.

It will of course be understood that when compressed air is admitted tothe cylinder and moves the piston 29 rearwardly to force thetrolley-pole to nearly a horizontal position the piston will abut theforward head 27 of the cylinder, and its motion will thus be arrested,and as the pistonrod 30 only bears loosely against the cross-head 32 andis not connected thereto in any manner whatsoever the pole is free to bedrawn down to a perfectly horizontal position by the cord 24, thecross-head at such time moving away from the end of the piston-rod.

Having thus fully described our invention, what we claim is i 1. In atrolley for electric railways, the combination with a swivel, of atrolley-pole piv oted to the swivel and providedwith a hinged extensioncarrying a trolley-wheel, means for At the same time the crank-arm 41will:

normally holding the pole and its extension out of alinement, a cylinderand piston for lowering the trolley-pole, a spring for raising it, avalve arranged to admit fluid-pressure to, out it OE, and exhaust itfrom the cylinder, a cable attached to said extension for guiding thetrolley into contact with the trolleywire, and means actuated by themovement of said hinged extension for controlling said valve, for thepurpose specified.

2. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination with a swivel, ofa trolley-pole pivoted to the swivel and provided with a hingedextension carrying a trolley-wheel, means for holding the pole and itsextension out of alinement when the trolley is out of contact with thetrolley-wire, a pneumatic motor for lowering the pole, means for raisingit, a cord attached to the extension for guding the trolley-wheel intocontact with the trolley-wire, and means actuated by said extension,when the latter is thrown out of alinement with the pole on the trolleyaccidentally leaving the wire, for placing the pole-lowering mechanismin operation, substantially as described.

3. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination with a swivel, ofa trolley-pole pivoted to the swivel and provided with a hingedextension carrying a trolley-wheel, said extension being arranged to beheld in alinement with the pole by the pressure of the trolley-wheelagainst the trolley-wire, a spring for throwing the extension out ofalinement with the pole when the trolley leaves the wire, means forraising the trolley-pole, a pneumatic motor for lowering it, saidmechanism being thrown into operation by the upward movement of the poleas the latter assumes a vertical position, a cord for guiding the trol-Icy-wheel into contact with the wire,and means actuated bysaid-extension, when the latteris thrown out of alinement with the poleon the trolley accidentally leaving the wire, for placing thepole-lowering mechanism into position to be actuated by the upwardmovement of the pole, for the purpose 4. In a trolley for electricrailways, the combination with a trolley-pole provided with a hingedextension carrying a trolley-wheel and arranged to be held in alinementwith the pole by the pressure of the trolley-wheel against thetrolley-wire, a spring for throwing the extension out of alinement withthe pole when the trolley leaves the wire, a spring for raising thetrolley-pole, a pneumatic motor for lowering it, said mechanism beingthrown into operation by the movement of the pole as the latter assumesa vertical position when the trolley leaves the wire, and out ofoperation by the downward movement of the pole, means forguiding thetrolley into contact with the wire, and means actuated by saidextension, when the latter is thrown out of alinement with the pole onthe trolley accidentally leavmechanism into position to be actuated bythe the trolley leaves the wire, means for raising.

the pole, a cylinder and piston for automatically lowering it when thetrolley accidentally leaves the wire, and means actuated by theextension, when the latter is thrown out of alinement with the pole forthrowing the pole-lowering mechanism into operation, sub- -stantially asdescribed.

6. In a trolley for electric railways,the combination with atrolley-pole provided with a hinged extension carryinga trolley-wheeland arranged to be held in alinement with the pole by the pressure ofthe trolley-wheel against the trolley-wire, a spring for throwing theextension out of alinement with the pole when the trolley leaves thewire, means for raising the pole, a cylinder and piston forautomatically lowering it when the trolley accidentally leaves the wire,means actuated by the extension when the latter is thrown out ofalinementwith the pole for throwing the polelowering mechanism intooperation, and a cord attached to said extension for guiding the trolleyinto contact with the wire, said cord, when employed for guiding thetrolley into position operating to hold the extension in alinementwiththe pole and thereby holding the pole-lowering mechanism out of op-.

eration, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a trolley for electric railways,the combination with' atrolley-pole provided with a hinged extension carrying a trolley-wheeland arranged to be held in alinementwith the pole by the pressure of thewheel against the trolley-wire, a spring for throwing the extension outof alinement with the pole when the trolley leaves the wire, means forraising the pole, a cylinder and piston for loweringit, a valve foradmitting fluid-pressure to the cylinder, mechanism, actuated by themovement of the pole in assuming an erect position when the trolleyleaves the wire, for opening the valve, and means actuated by theextension as the latter is thrown out of alinement with the pole by thespring, for placing said mechanism in operative relation with the pole,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. In a trolley for electric railways,the combination of a hingedextension carrying a trolley-Wheel and arranged to be held in alinementwith the pole by the pressure of the wheel against the trolley-wire, aspring for throwing the extension out of alinement with the pole whenthe trolley leaves the wire, a

spring for raising the pole, a cylinder and piston for loweringit, avalve for ad mittingfiuidpressure to the cylinder, mechanism,actuated bythe movement of the pole in assuming an erect position when the trolleyleaves the wire, for opening the valve, means actuated by the extension,as the latter is thrown out of alinement with the pole by the spring,for placing said mechanism in operative relation with the pole, and acord attached to said extension for guiding the trolley onto the wire,substantially as described.

9. In atrolley for electric railways, the combination of a hingedextension carryinga trolley-wheel and arranged to be held in alinementwith the pole by the pressure of the wheel against the trolley-wire, aspring for throwing the extension out of alinement with the pole whenthe trolley leaves the wire, a spring for raising the pole, a cylinderand piston for lowering it, a valve for admitting fluidpressure to thecylinder, a ratchet-wheel and connections between the latter and thevalve for turning the valve, a pawl carried by the pole for turning theratchet-wheel and opening the valve, as the pole assumes an erectposition on the trolley leaving the wire, and means actuated by theextension as the latter is thrown out of alinement with the pole by thespring for throwing said pawl into engagement with the ratchet-wheel,for the purpose specified.

10. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of atrolley-pole having a hinged extension carrying the trolley-wheel andarranged to be held in alinement with the pole by the pressure of thewheel against the trolley-wire, a spring for throwing the extension outof alinement with the pole when the trolley leaves the wire, a springfor raising the pole, a cylinder and piston for lowering it, a valve foradmitting fluid-pressure to the cylinder, a ratchet-wheel andconnections between the latter and the valve for turning the valve, apawl carried by the pole for turning the ratchet-wheel and opening thevalve as the pole assumes an erect position on the trolley leaving thewire, means actuated by the extension as the latter is thrown out ofalinement with the pole by the spring for throwing said pawl intoengagement with the ratchet-wheel, and means actuated toward the end ofthe opening movement of the valve for throwing said pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

11. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of atrolley-pole, a hinged extension carrying the trolley-wheel and arrangedto be held in alinement with the pole by the pressure of the wheelagainst the trolley-wire, a spring for throwing the extension out ofalinement with the pole when the trolley leaves the wire, a spring forraising the pole, a cylinder and piston for lowering it, a valve foradmitting fluid-pressure to the cylinder a ratchet-wheel and connectionsbetween the latter and the valve for turning the valve, a pawl carriedby the pole for turning the ratchet-wheel and opening the valve as thepole assumes an erect position on the trolley leaving the wire, meansactuated by the extension as the latter is turned out of alinement withthe pole by the spring for throwing said pawl into engagement with theratchetwheel, and an eccentric disposed alongside the ratchet-wheel andarranged to be turned toward the end of the opening movement of thevalve for engaging said pawl and lifting it out of engagement with theratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

12. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of atrolley-pole, a hinged extension carrying the trolley-wheel and arrangedto be held in alinement with the pole by the pressure of the wheelagainst the trolley-wire, a spring for throwing the extension out ofalinement with the pole when the trolley leaves the wire, a spring forraising the pole, a cylinder and piston for lowering it, a valve foradmitting fluid-pressure to the cylinder, a ratchet-wheel, crank'arms onthe ratchetwheel and valve-stem, a link connecting said crank-arms, apawl carried by the pole for turning the ratchet-wheel and opening thevalve as the pole assumes an erect position on the trolley leaving thewire, means actuated by the extension, as the latter is thrown out ofalinement with the pole by the spring for throwing said pawl intoengagement with the ratchet-wheel, and means actuated toward the end ofthe opening movement of the valve for throwing said pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

13. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of a trolleypoleprovided with a hinged extension carrying a trolley-wheel and arrangedto be held in alinement with the pole by the pressure of the wheelagainst the trolley-wire, a spring for throwing the extension out ofalinement with the pole when the trolley leaves the wire, a spring forraising the pole, a cylinder and piston for lowering it, a valve foradmitting fluid-pressure to the cylinder, a ratchet-wheel, crankarms onthe ratchet-wheel and the valve-stem, a link connecting said crank-arms,a pawl carried by the pole for turning the ratchetwheel and opening thevalve as the pole assumes an erect position on the trolley leaving thewire, means actuated by the extension as the latter is thrown out ofalinement with the pole by the spring for throwing said pawl intoengagement with the ratchet-wheel, an eccentric disposed alongside ofthe ratchetwheel, and a crank-and-link connection between the valve andeccentric for throwing the latter, toward the end of the openingmovement of the valve, into engagement with said pawl to lift it out ofengagement with the ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

14. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of atrolley-pole provided with a hinged extension carrying a trolley-wheeland arranged to be held in alinement with the pole by the pressure ofthe wheel against the trolley-wire, a spring for throwing the eX-tension out of alinement with the pole when the trolley leaves the wire,a spring for raising the pole, a cylinder and piston for lowering it, avalve for admitting fluid-pressure to the cylinder, a ratchet-wheel andconnections between the latter and the valve for turning the valve, arocking arm on the pole, a pawl carried by one end of said arm forturning the ratchet-wheel and opening the valve as the pole assumes anerect position on the trolley leaving the wire, a rod connected withsaid extension, and a rocking arm arranged to rock the arm and throw thepawl into engagement with the ratchet-wheel when said extension isthrown out of alinement with the pole, and means actuated toward the endof the opening movement of the valve for throwing said pawl out ofengagement with the ratchet-wheel, substantially as described.

15. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of atrolley-pole, of a spring for raising it, a cylinder and piston forlowering it, a rotary valve for admitting fluid-pressure to and exhaustit from the cylinder, a crankarm on the valve-stem, a rod connected atone end to said crank-arm, and at its other end to an expansible springarranged to draw the rod away from the valve, means actuated by themovement of the trolley-pole in assuming an erect position when thetrolley leaves the wire, for turning the valve to throw the crank-armabove the center and permit the spring and rod to throw the valve wideopen, and means'actuated by the downward movement of the trolley-polefor throwing the crank below the center to permit the spring and rod toturn the valve in the reverse direction and exhaust the cylinder,substantially as described.

16. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of atrolley-pole, a spring for raising it, a cylinder and piston forlowering it, a rotary valve for admitting fluid-pressure to and exhaustit from the cylinder, a crankarm on the valve-stem, a rod connected atone end to said crank-arm and at its other end to an expansible springarranged to draw the rod away from the valve, means actuated by themovement of the trolley-pole in assuming an erect position when thetrolley leaves the wire for turning the valve to throw the crank-armabove the center, and permit the spring and rod to throw the valve wideopen, said means when the trolley-pole is moved to nearly a horizontalposition being arranged to throw the crank on a dead-center and turn thevalve into a position to cut oif the supply of fluid-pressure fromtheoylinder, substantially as described.

17. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of atrolley-pole,a spring for raising it, a cylinder and piston for loweringit, a

rotary valve for admitting fluid-pressure to' and exhaust it from thecylinder, a crankarm on the valve-stem, a rod connected at one end tosaid crank-arm, and at its other the valve into a position to cut offthe supply of fluid-pressure from the cylinder, and means arranged tothrow said crank below the center and permit the spring and rod to turnthe valve to exhaust the cylinder when the poleis drawn to a horizontalposition, substantially as described.

18. In a trolley for electric railways, the combination of atrolley-pole,a spring for raising it, a cylinder and piston for loweringit to nearly a horizontal position, a rotary valve for admitting fluid-pressure to and exhaust it from the cylinder, a crank-arm on thevalvestem, a rod connected at one end to said crank-arm and at its otherend to an expansible spring arranged to throw the rod away from thevalve, means actuated by the move ment of the trolley-pole in assumingan erect position when the trolley leaves the wire for turning the valveto throw the crank-arm above the center, and permit the spring and rodto throw the valve wide open, said means when the trolley-pole is movedto nearlya horizontal position being arranged to throw the crank on adead-center and throw the valve into a position to cut 0d the supply offluid-pressure to the cylinder,ineans arranged to throw said crank belowthe center and permit the spring and rod to turn the valve to exhaustthe cylinder when the pole is drawn down to a horizontal position, and acord attached to the trolley-pole for guiding the trolley onto the wire,and for drawing the pole down past the point to which it has been movedby the cylinder, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hands in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

JUDSON L. BOGUE. DAVID M. JENNINGS. \Vitnesses:

F. N. PUCKETT, A. B. SMITH.

